If the cholesterol level in the blood exceeds the normal level, then this condition is known as hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol. High cholesterol conditions can increase the risk of serious diseases. Cholesterol itself is a waxy fat compound which is mostly produced in the liver and some of it is obtained from food. Generally, heart attack and stroke are diseases that lurk with high cholesterol, which is caused by excessive cholesterol deposition in blood vessels.
Based on a report from WHO in 2011, about 35 percent of Indonesia's population is estimated to have cholesterol levels higher than the normal limit for health. This shows that one third of Indonesia's population is at high risk of arterial disease.
Eating foods with high cholesterol content or lack of exercise can also cause excess cholesterol, however, heredity can also be a trigger for cholesterol.
Cholesterol Symptoms
When there is deposition on artery walls due to excessive cholesterol levels, obstruction to blood flow to the heart, brain and other parts of the body can occur. High cholesterol increases a person's risk of narrowing the arteries or atherosclerosis, blood clots in certain parts of the body, minor strokes, strokes, and heart attacks.
Pain in the front of the chest or in the arms (angina) when a person is under stress or is doing strenuous physical activity can also be caused by high cholesterol. High cholesterol also increases a person's risk for coronary heart disease.
If you don't change your diet and don't stop smoking, people with high cholesterol will have an increased risk of having a stroke or heart disease. In cigarettes, a chemical called acrolein is found. This substance can stop the activity of good cholesterol or HDL to transport fat deposits to the liver. As a result, there can be narrowing of the arteries or atherosclerosis.